Mr. Robinson’s own judgment in the case is thus expressed, in a letter to Elder Brewster, dated at Leyden, December 20, 1623. After speaking of the adventurers and classifying them, he says in relation to the body of them, “I persuade myself that for me they of all others are unwilling I should be transported, especially such as have an eye that way themselves,…and for those adversaries, if they have but half their will to their malice, they will stop my course, when they see it intended.” Sherley, who was one of the adventurers, incurred the ill-will of his associates by favouring the removal. “The sole cause,” he observed in a letter to the Plymouth people in 1627, “why the greater part of the adventurers malign me, was, that I would not side with them against you and the coming over of the Leyden people.”

Saith he, such was the mutual love and reciprocal respect that this worthy man had to his flock and his flock to him, that it might be said of them, as it was once said of that famous Emperor Marcus Aurelius, and the people of Rome, That it was hard to judge whether he delighted more in having such a people, or they in having such a pastor.¹³

It was four or five years after the death of Mr. Robinson, before provision could be made for the removal of his wife and children to Plymouth. In 1629, thirty-five families were transported from Leyden to New England, at the heavy expense of £500, paid by the brethren in the colony. Another company came over the next year, at a still greater expense. In one of these companies were the wife and children of Mr. Robinson.

We have the names of but two of his children, John and Isaac. John settled at, or near Cape Ann, Isaac settled near Plymouth, at Scituate, where he was a freeman in 1633. He removed in 1639 to Barnstable. The descendants of Robinson are numerous, scattered over New England and other States of the Union, and in various respectable and useful stations in life. (See life of Robinson, prefixed to his works.)

Roger white to Governor Bradford.

To his loving friend, Mr. William Bradford, governor of Plimouth, in New England, these be, etc.

LOVING AND KIND FRIENDS, ETC.,

I know not whether ever this will come to your hands, or miscarry, as other of my letters have done; yet, in regard of the Lord’s dealing with us here, I have had a great desire to write unto you, knowing your desire to bear a part with us, both in our joys and sorrows, as we do with you.

These, therefore, are to give you to understand, that it hath pleased the Lord to take out of this vale of tears, your and our loving and faithful pastor, and my dear and reverend brother, Mr. John Robinson, who was sick some eight days, beginning first to be sick on a Saturday morning; yet the next day, being the Lord’s day, he taught us twice, and the week after grew every day weaker than other, yet felt no pain but weakness, all the time of his sickness. The physic he took wrought kindly, in man’s judgment, yet he grew every day weaker than other, feeling little or no pain, yet sensible to the very last. He fell sick the 22nd of February, and departed this life on the 1st of March. He had a continual inward ague, but, I thank the Lord, was free of the plague, so that all his friends could come freely to him; and if either prayers, tears, or means would have saved his life, he had not gone hence. But he having faithfully finished his course, and performed his work which the Lord had appointed him here to perform; he now rests with the Lord, in eternal happiness; we wanting him, and all church governors, not having one at present that is a governing officer among us. Now for ourselves here left (I mean the whole church), we still, by the mercy of God, continue and hold close again together in peace and quietness, and so I hope we shall do, though we be very weak; wishing (if such were the will of God) that you and we were again together in one, either there or here; but seeing it is the will of the Lord, thus to dispose of things, we must labour with patience to rest contented till it please the Lord otherwise to dispose of things.

For news at present here, is not much worth the writing; only as in England we have lost our old king James, who departed this life about a month ago, so here we have lost Grave Maurice, the old prince